While
I hope that all of you had an exciting summer at the
beach, on vacation and just enjoying yourselves with
friends and family, I chose to spend my time doing what
I know and love best: Playing volleyball.
Returning with Team Canada this year was the beginning
of a two year plan to kick-start my future, after
volleyball. It is also the time limit I've given myself
to find out what it is that I have been searching for in
this sport for all these years. With life's ups
and downs, I hope to look back on this period, knowing
that I lived all that I could and with everything but
regrets.
This summer, Team Canada went on an adventure that would
eventually lead to the World Championships in Germany.
Starting with an exhibition tour with Japan at the end
of May, our team was in search of its potential (while
waiting for the return of the veterans from their pro
teams in early June). Japanese teams have always
been known for their consistency, speed and strength,
regardless of their often young team.
Our next step was Canada Cup 2002 (June 13-16) which
included teams from Puerto Rico, Australia, and Japan.
This annual, four-team tournament gave us a chance to
play in front of a home crowd for the first time in 2
years. We gladly rose to the occasion, winning our
first match against Puerto Rico 3-0
(25-19, 25-22, 26-24).
We also won our second match against Australia 3-0
(25-19, 25-22, 25-18),
playing a lot more consistently than our first match and
in preparation for our most challenging third match
against Japan.
Our first disappointing loss of the tournament was
against Japan. Although playing very hard for most
of the match, our unforced errors at crucial moments
left us trailing Team Japan after the first set (24-26).
After another close loss in the second set (26-28), an
intense third set win brought us back in the match
(25-22). However, the stellar defensive play and
consistent attack of Japan led them to 3-1 win against
Team Canada in the fourth set (23-25).
Team Canada and Team Japan would meet again in the
Canada Cup final where the consistently strong play of
Japan would once again win against a less convincing
Team Canada (3-0).

The first ever Pan American Cup held in Tijuana, Mexico
(June 24-30) would be another major competition in
preparation for the World Championships at the end of
the summer. The tournament of 7 teams in two pools
would include the hosting country Mexico, Argentina,
Dominican Republic, Canada, USA National B team, Puerto
Rico and Cuba. Most of these teams would later go
on to play in the World Championships in Germany.

Canada's Results:

Canada
- USA

3-0 (25-18,
25-20, 25-21)

Canada
- Cuba

0-3 (19-25,
22-25, 18-25)

Canada -
Puerto Rico

3-0 (25-22,
25-21, 25-22)

Canada -
Dominican Rep.

0-3 (15-25,
20-25, 13-25)

Canada -
Mexico

3-0 (25-21,
25-22, 25-16)

Canada finished third
for the bronze medal at this tournament. However,
even though Canada played some very good, promising
volleyball, the inconsistency of the team was clear in
the 3-0 wins and the 0-3 losses, and would prove to be
very detrimental to the team's success at the World
Championships.

After a brief mental
and physical break, Team Canada trained and played
several exciting exhibition matches against Dominican
Republic 's powerful attacks (similar to a team like
Cuba) and yet another Japanese team, Hitachi Mobari (similar
to the fast, consistent play of Korea) and finally
against Czech Republic, all in preparation for the teams
we would encounter at the World Championships.

World
Championships August 30 - September 15 2002
Schwerin,Germany

Canada finished
between 17th and 20th in the tournament.
After many exciting moments this summer, and a very
promising first 2 matches at the World Championships, it
was very disappointing that Canada didn't qualify for
the second round of the tournament. It is always
easier to reason after the disappointment and regrets
have subsided and all in all, Canada has a young, but
potentially strong team that needs to learn discipline
and consistency in the most important moments of the
match. I am convinced that if this team stays
together and works to improve these things in the next
year, we will have a team that can stand up to and beat
many of the teams that we unfortunately lost to this
summer. Our goal is to develop this team and go
into the qualification for the Olympics 204 with one of
Canada's best teams ever. Are we up to it team?
I say we are!!!